2.4.0.8040050 - Disclosure - Finance Receivables (Narratives) (Details)truefalseIn Millions, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1false USDfalsefalse$FROM_Jan01_2013_TO_Jun30_2013http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001025378duration2013-01-01T00:00:002013-06-30T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$1true 2us-gaap_AccountsNotesAndLoansReceivableClassifiedAbstractus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Finance Receivables2false 3us-gaap_FinancingReceivableCreditQualityAdditionalInformationus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00We generally seek investments in facilities that we believe are critical to a tenant’s business and that we believe have a low risk of tenant defaults. At both June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, none of our finance receivables were past due and we had not established any allowances for credit losses.falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringIncludes any additional disclosures related to the credit quality of financing receivables. This may include a description of a credit quality indicator or a description of how the internal risk ratings used by a company relate to the likelihood of loss.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 29 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7512638&loc=SL6953659-111524 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 30 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7512638&loc=SL6953664-111524 false0Financing receivable credit quality additional information3false 3us-gaap_FinancingReceivableCreditQualityRangeOfDatesRatingsUpdatedus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00second quarter of 2013falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringIncludes a disclosure detailing the range of dates that the consumer credit scores were last updated.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 29 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7512638&loc=SL6953659-111524 false0Financing receivable credit quality range of dates ratings updated4false 3wpc_ReclassifcationToFromNetDirectFinancingLeasewpc_falsedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1truefalsefalse56000005.6USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryIncrease decrease in net investments in direct financing lease during the period.No definition available.false2Reclassification from direct financing lease5false 3us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfFinanceReceivablesus-gaap_truedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1truefalsefalse55000005.5falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe cash inflow associated with the sale of receivables arising from the financing of goods and services.No definition available.false2Proceeds from sale of direct financing lease6false 3wpc_GainLossOnSaleOfFinanceReceivablewpc_falsecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1truefalsefalse-300000-0.3USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe gains (losses) included in earnings that represent the difference between the sale price and the carrying value of finance receivable that were sold during the reporting period. This element refers to the gain (loss) and not to the cash proceeds of the sales.No definition available.false2Gain (loss) on direct financing leasefalseFinance Receivables (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)HundredThousandsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruefalsefalseSheethttp://www.wpcarey.com/role/DisclosureFinanceReceivablesNarrativesDetails16